white horehound

horehound (Marrubium vulgare), very common throughout Europe, grows among ruderal vegetation on roadsides, wastelands and dry hills. It appears as a very hairy grayish bush, also known as hollyhock, with orbicular-shaped leaves and white flowers gathered in globose whorls.

It blooms from May and in summer, and the flowering tops are harvested for medicinal purposes.

The term “horehound” comes from the Latin marrubium and could derive from the name of a town in ancient Rome, Maria Urbsor from the Hebrew word marrob, which means “bitter juice”. Unlike its relatives, mints and lavenders, horehound is certainly a very bitter plant that must be combined with others to avoid becoming undrinkable.

In Antiquity it was considered an infallible antidote against the poison of other plants, and in ancient Egypt it was used in mortuary rituals.

In herbalists, white horehound is found in the form of a dried plant for infusion, tincture, powder, capsules and liquid extract.

White horehound properties

White horehound contains bitter principles such as marrubiin, diterpene lactones, choline, tannins, saponosides, flavonoids and mineral salts. His quality of bitter plant explains its function as a stimulant of gastric secretions and, therefore, its usefulness for arouse appetite and correct digestive system disorders.

It also has carminative properties, since it contributes to reduce bloating, gas and flatulence.

It is considered an excellent liver decongestantof clear choleretic action, ideal after intoxication or mild food poisoning.

Also a slight hypoglycemic effect is attributed to itand due to its content in mineral salts it is indicated as a diuretic in fluid retention, edema, oliguria, urinary disorders, high uric acid level and arterial hypertension.

But its most outstanding property is its expectorant and fluidifying effect of mucus that accumulates in the respiratory tree.

It is very useful to decongest in respiratory allergies, asthmatic processes, bronchitis and as a support to relieve coughing attacks in compulsive smokers.

In topical use, horehound also works as an astringent and healing of the skin. To clean wounds, just apply a simple infusion, once warm, carefully watering the affected area.

Horehound Infusion Recipes

Expectorant tea to relieve congestion: Horehound, combined with other plants, by thinning mucus, can be useful in allergies, asthma and bronchitis. It is combined with violet flower, lungwort and Scots pine buds, in equal parts. How to prepare it: Boil a tablespoon of the mixture per cup of water for 2 minutes, let it rest for another 5 and strain. It is drunk after meals, because bitterness is better tolerated. To soften it, you can add licorice or green anise.

To decongest the liver: To this end, it is proposed to combine it in equal parts with other detoxifying plants such as fumiaria, boldo and lemon verbena – the latter also helps to correct the taste. How is it prepared: Pour a tablespoon of the mixture per glass of water, infuse for 5 minutes, strain and drink after copious or heavy meals.

Precautions and contraindications

Horehound is not recommended in hypersecretory dyspepsia, as well as in case of nausea and vomiting, in pregnancy and, due to its bitter taste, during lactation.

Jordi Cebrian. Advisor: J Mª Teixé, herbalist at “El Manantial de Salud”